Electrical signaling apparatus.



0. L. HARRISON. ELECTRICAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00122, 1908.

933,557- Patented Sept. 7. 1909.

u 2 BHEBTS-BH'EET 1.

l/VVENTOR i A tlornev O. L. HARRISON. ELEGTRIGAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATIOH TILED 0OT.2. 1908.

MM W m u v H U 7 A m m R m %m v %M A d on H .iblL N m T m kl} m W o Y W $3 mg N3 mm? wmh ww Q\ v h J tion of the motor controlling UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

owner n nams'on, or comma, mmois. nnnc'mrcu. smnanmc armres- To all whom it may concern:

of, Coleta in. the county of Whiteside and State of fllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Electrical Signaling Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full; clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enpertains to make and use the sam This invention relates to improvements in electrical signaling mechanism and more particularly to such as are adapted for use able othersskilled in the art to which it ap- -on telephone lines for 0 crating s nchroniz'ed or harmonic call be ls,one ject of the invention being to so constructand arrange an apparatus of the character specified, that various ratesof frequency of current can be efi'ected 'on a line or enternalcircuit or so that several external circuits can be supplied simultaneously with currents of different frequencies, and thus enable several central office operators to use the apparatus at the same time for operating signal bells on various lines.

A. further object is to provide a pole changer capable of Sn pl ing to a number of lines currents of ifl rent frequencies, with means for operating at a constant or uniform speed.

A further object is to provide a rotary pole changer capable of supplying current of different fre uencies to a number of lines, with simple an efficient means for driving the rotary member at a constant or uniform rate of. speed regardless changes of vol tage of t 6 current which operates and controls said driving means.

Withthese objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts ashereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a pole changer embodying my invention. 1 1g. 2 is a transverse sectional view; Figs. 3, 4:, 5, 6 and 7 are detail views illustrating various arts of the pole changer; Fig. 8 is a view i ustrat ing the motor and means for controlling the same to drive the pole changer at a constant speed; Fig. 9 is an edge view showing a poris a view of'a slight modification.

1. represents a suitable base on which standards 2, 3 are located, and' upon saidthe shaft 4 of the pole changer is Standards,

Specification? Letter: latent, Application filed comer}, "1900. Serial No. usasoa.

said pole changer provided with two Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

mounted in suitable bearings. The shaft 4: Be it known that I, OWEN L. Hanalson,

carries a series of commutator-s, (four being shown in the drawing) which are so connected in circuits and cooperate with brushes in suchmanner as to supply various lines or external circuits with currents of difi'erent fr uencies for operating harmonic bells on said lines or external circuits. Each coinmutator may consist of two rings 5-6 naving intermeshing contact teeth or fingers 7, the rings of eac connnutator having a d .1fferent number of such teeth or fingers so that currents of different frequenciesyill be su plied to the various lines with which t e rushes coiiperating with these conimutators are connected.

The pairs, airings composing the variou's commutatorsare locate upon hubs 8 of insulatin material-secured to tlie shaft/i. These hu s are made of such length as to project slightly beyond the edges: 0 the commutators and contact with 121Gb other so as to prevent electrical interference of commutater with its neighbors. The rings 56 of each commutator are so placed on their hubs 8 as to be out of electrical contact with each other, and the spaces between the intermeshing contact teeth or fingers 7 of therespective rings are occupied b spacers 9 of insulating materia projecting fromthe hub. .8. Instead of making the spacin teeth 9 as pro'ections from the hubs 8, sai spacerslmay emade'of metal as shown at 10 Fig. hub, with insulating material 11 at each side of each spacer.

10, and driven into the Each of the several. hubs 8 'is grooves 12 and 13'. 31c. grooves of the various hubs being made to aline with each other.- Into these gi'ooves; -keys14 '-15 areinserted, the he tricalcontact with one of each tutor, and the key 15 having similar projcc tions in electrical contact with the other rifn oftheseverifl commutators. One end 0 ri I sha 4, while one'endof the key-15 is elecected: "wi th a washer IB 'and a "on'flae'shaft 4 and having =electrica1connectidn'therewith.

,Two' brush'es'fifl go' are 1provided for each commutator ds-Zsho'wn. in, ig. 2, and these brushes are secured to holders 21 adjustably connected with i an insulated semicircular trically;

14 having" a S ries of projectingjportions 16 in elset e-key 14 isinelectrical contact with-a 17 carried-.by but insulated from the support 22 disposed concentric with and suitably spaced from the commutators.

An adjustable screw 23 is rovided for each brush 20 for regulating etension of the same a inst its commutator. The brushes of use pair-are connected by means of suitable conductors with a pair of binding posts 24-25, and the latter are connected I) conductors 26 27 (representin .a telephone line or external circuit) wit a suitable switch board, not shown.

One terminalof an electric battery 28 is connected, b a conductor29 with a' brush 30 making e ectrical contact with the shaft 4, while the other terminal of said battery is connected, by means of a conductor 31 with a brush 32 with the insulated ring 17.

\Vith the construction and arrangement above described, a circuit' may be traced from one terminal of the battery by conductor 29 to the shaft 4; thenceby nut 19 and washer, 18 to the key 15; thence to one member of a commutator, thence to one of the commutator brushes, thence to one limb of the external circuit; thence by way of the other limb of the external circuit to the other commutator brush,to the other member of a the commutator, through the key 14 to the insulated ring 17, thence to brush 32 and from the latter, by the conductor 31 to the other terminal of the battery. As one member of each commutator is connected with one terminal of the battery by means of the key 14 and as the other member. of the same commutator is connected with the other ter' minal of the battery by means of the key 15, it is a parent-that when the commutator is rotate in contact with the brushes 20, an alternating current will flow over the exter nal circuit. It is also apparent thatmif one commutator brush be moved laterally so as to contact with the continuous or plain portion 'of a commutator member while the other brush is permitted to make contact with the teeth or fingers of the other commutator member, a pulsatin current will be sent over the external circuit. The alternations of the current in the external circuit will be equal to the sum of the teeth of two rings or members composing a commutator. Thus, if a-pair of rings or commutator members have six .teeth each, the line or external circuit will receive twelve alternations of current with each complete rotation 'of the shaft 4, and any roportions may be obtained by varying t e number of teeth of the commutator members. In the drawin s -I have shown the machine provided with our conunutators,whic h will cause, respectively, 4, 8, 12 and 16 alternations onthe ines connected with them, with each complete rotationof the shaft, when said external circuits are closed. Each pair of commutator members may be connected with a different line at the same time, and each line will reor each pair'of bin ceive alternations roportional to the numher of teeth in t e commutator members with which it is connected.

Several lines ma be connected with any (ling osts or commutator brushes, and the various ines will receive the desired alternations The machine will, therefore, serve any number of operators. It may be found desirable to make the rings or commutator members having the reatest number of teeth, larger in diameter t an the rings or commutator members having a smaller number of teeth. To construct a revolving harmonic polo-changer when the he quencies are to have fractional ratios instead of multiple ratios, as in the drawing,

the highest frequency should always be less is desired to roduce five difl'erent cquencies.

ring will be live; the numbersof teeth in succession would then be, 5, 6, 7,8, 9. The

frequencies would be 10, 12, 14, 16 18 per revolution of the shaft. 13 'gi'vin th two revolutions )er second; the requencies produced would e 20, 24, 28, 32, 36. This. would be a very practical set of frequencies for ringing harmonic bells made to res end to said frequencies. The object should to leave the greatest interval possible between frequencies. This can alwa s. be read' y' done by making the number 0 teeth r ring Then, t e lowest number of teeth pere shaft "than twice the lowest fre uenc bu ose it q 5' PP for the lowestfre'quency equal to t e number'of frequencies desired, and giving each ring of each successive pair 0 rings, one

'more tooth than its predecessor. The rule will always divide' the octave into equal parts, and will avoid multiple ratios.

In'order that the machine shall operate effectually for ringing harmonic bells, it is important that the rotary 1e changer-shall be driven at a substantia 1y constant, uni form speed. To accomplish thisi the devices now to be described may be emp 0 ed.

A ratchet wheel 33 is mounted oosely on the shaft 4 and prevented from lateral displacement in one direction by a washer 34 and a nut 35 on the shaft. secured to the shaft at the other side of the ratchet wheel and to this collar,- a spring 87 is secured. The pr jecting' end of this s'prin is engaged by a pin '3 which rojects lateraly from the ratchet wheel.

Acollar 36 is n thismanner, the ratchet wheel has a yielding con nection withthe shaft, so that the s eed of the latter will be constant, 'regar ess of changes of voltage-in the circuit which includes the magnet which controls the operation of the devices which propel the ratchet wheel,whereas, if the ratchet wheel were rlg1dly secured to the shaft, a sudden in crease of voltage'in the circuit of the motor magnet would tend to acdelerate the speed of the shaft. The motor magnet above referred to is indicated at 38 and actuates a magnet, the yoke being limited in its lnovement in this direction by means of a stop screw'44 adjustably mounted in a post 45' 'and held in adjusted position by ajam nut 46. The other arm of the yoke terminates Jmder the ratchet wheel in a hook 47 to en- It is apparent that when the yoke is reciprocated by the combined action of the motor magnet 38 and the spring (or b the alternate action of two motor magnets the ratchet wheel, and consequently the shaft 4 and the commutators will be rotated constantly in the same direction.-

In order that the circuit of the motor magnet shall he opened and closed at a uniform rate of speed and thus cause a constant, uniform speed of the commutatorsof the pole changer, the'deviccs now to be .described may be em loyed.

A reed 48 (pro erably of hard spring steel) is secure( at'one end to a suitable support 49 and at its free end is adapted to play between the poles 49 of a-magnct 50 supported by a su table standard 51., Near its free end, the reed carries a block 52 of' insulating material and the side of this block neitt to the reed is cut away or recessed aszshown at 52. A contnctiinger 53 of thin pliable spring metal is secured at one end to the reed 48 .within the recess of the block. 52 and the free end of this finger carries a contact point 54. A contact screw 55 passes through the block 52 and terminates in a contact oint 56 close to the contact point 54 of tlie finger 53. The screw 55 is engaged by a clip 57 which prevents said screw from turning, and said. clip is secured to the block 52 bymeans of a screw 58.

A screw 59 is secured to the free end (if the reed, and on this screw, a nut i6 and thin washers 61 are located; These devices serve as simple means for-tuning the reed. That is, by Varying the load. Such devices are not apt to get out of .proper ad ju'stment.

()ne pole of a battery ()2 is connected by a conductor 63 with one terminal of a helix of magnet 50 and the other helixof this magnet is connected by a conductor (34 with a bindin post 65 electrically connected with the re 48 through the-reed support 49. The clip 57 and consequently the contact screw 55, is connected by a conductor .66 with a binding post 67 and the latter is connected, by a conductor 68'with the other pole of the battery 62. The conductor 63 is connected by a wire 69 with one terminal of the helix of the motor magnet 38, and the other terminal of the helix of the motor magnet is connectedby means of a wire 70. with the binding post (55. Thus it will be seen that the magnets 38 and 50 are arranged in parallel with each other and that these circuits are controlled by the circuit breaker afforded by the contacts 54 and 56 carried by the reed 48. The play of thecontact point 54 is adjusted by means of the screw 55. The platinum contact 56 may be soldered to the inner end of screw55.

When the reed 48 is at rest, and the circuit of battery 32 is open, the contact point 54 will rest lightly against the contact point 56. When the circuit is closed by means of a suitable key (not shown)- the reed will be actuated by the magnet 50 and asthe circuit breaking contacts ML-56 are in series with the coils of magnet 50, the circuit will be broken by the separation of the contacts 54-56- and cause the magnet 50'to release cuit at the contacts 54-56 will continue and the reed will thus be caused to vibrate with a definite and uniform frequency and the making and breaking of the circuit will correspond in frequency withtliat of the reed. In consequence of the above operation of the reed, the circuit of the motor magnet helix will be opened and closed with a uniforin'frequency orres onding with the frequency of vibration o the reed, and hence the speed"of'reciprocation of the yoke 42 and hence'the speed of rotation of the commutators of the pole changer will .beconstant and uniform. The said pole changer is therefore capable of effectually controlling the operation of harmonic bells on the several hnes or external circuits with which the polechanger is connected, as previously explained.

Various changes might be made in the details of construction of the variqusparts of my invention without departing from the spirit of the latter or limit'n-g its sco e, and hence I do not wish to rest -ict 1n ysel to the precisedetails herein set ,itorth.

Havin fully described my invention what T c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is z-- a 1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a series of rotary commutators', each ad: ted to interrupt an electric circuit at a di crent frequency from the others, means for including each of said commutators in a ditlerent external circuit an eleciro-magnetic device for operating said commutators simultaneously and means for operating said elcctro-magnetic device at a substantially constantly uniform speed.

scribed, the combination of a shaft, a series of commutators carried by said shaft and each adapted to interrupt an external elecmutators, and means for operating the electro-magnetic device at a substant1ally constunt uniform speed.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a shaft, a series of commutatorslocated thereon and each adapted to interrupt an external circuit at a different frequency from the others, means for including each commutator in a different external circuit, a ratchet wheel looseon the shaft, a pin and 's rin connection between the ratchet wheel ant l shaft, electrically'actuated means for rotating said ratchet wheel, and means for operating said elec t-rically actuated means ata substantially constant uniform speed.

,4. In apparatus of the character described the combination of a series of commutato'rs,- each adapted to interru t an external circuit at a different rate of requenc from the others, means for including eaci commutator in a different external circuit, an electro-magnetic device for propelling said commutators simultaneouslvat a substantially constant uniform sp and a reed ca'rrying a circuit making and breakin device for controlling the operation 0 the electro-magnetic device.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a rotary pole changer comprising a commutator and brushes coii crating. therewith and ada ted to be inclu ed in an external circuit, 0 an clectro-magnetic device for propelling said commutator, a reed, a circuit interrupter carried by said reed, a magnet for operating the reed, and an electric circuit including said reed, the circuit in-terru ter, said magnet and the magnet of said el ectro-magnetlc device.

6. The combination with a sourceof electrical energy, of a shaft, means for rotating the shaft at a substantially uniform rate of speed, contacting elements mounted on said s aft, said contacting elements arranged in pairs, one positive and the other negative, means for including each pair of contacting devices in an external or workin and each air of said contacts a apted to produce a ifierent number of chan esor interruptions of the external or wet g circuit at each rotation of the shaft and means for connecting each contacting element with the proper pole of the sourceof electric energy.

v 7. In an apparatus of the character. de scribed, the combination with a'shaft, of a series of commutators mounted the'reon, each commutator comprising two members and adapted to interrupt a current at a different -frequency from the. others, brushes coo erating with each commutator and includ in an external or working circuit, a key elec- 'trically connected with one memberof each commutator, another key electricall connected with the other member ofeac com mutator, insulating hubs supportingsaid commutators and keys, a source of electrical energy havin its terminals connected respectively wit said keys, and means for rotating said commutators at a substantially constant uniform speed.

8. The combination with a source ofelece trical energy, of a shaft means .for rotating the shaft at a substanti ly constant uniform speed, pairs of insulated rin mounted on said shaft, both members 0 each pair of rings having an equall'number of longitudi- 'nal intermeshing teeth and ,each' pair of rings having a different number of teeth from any other .pair, means for includin each pair of rings in one or more externa working circuits so that each air of rings 'In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing withesses.

OWEN L. HARRISON.

Witnesses:

A. X. Hxnnison, Annm' C. HAnmsoN.

c rcuit,

will produce a'difierent num er of interruptions or alternations in said clrcuit or cir- 

